“Anthony Davis looked phenomenal” – Brian Windhorst thinks an MVP season is loading for AD

Will AD finally prove he is the clear-cut best player on the Lakers next season?  

It’s rare that a player in his 30s scores a major individual achievement. However, for Anthony Davis, who turns 32 before the end of the 2024 season, a long-overdue milestone may be on the horizon.

Davis was brought over by the Los Angeles Lakers five years ago to be the successor to LeBron James. But the Lakers — and perhaps even James — were anticipating the big man to make that leap within a couple of seasons into his arrival; that hasn’t happened yet.

While he’s been largely spectacular through his run with L.A., injuries and setbacks — and also LeBron’s continued elite play as he approaches 40 — have kept the Kentucky product No. 2 on the roster. Will that finally change in 2024?

Windy has his eyes on AD

When he was last seen on the hardwood, Davis often had his imprint all over games with hellish defensive intensity and routine shot-blocking. While he wasn’t nearly as impactful as the Olympic MVP and the man he’s shared the court with over the last five years, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst saw enough to convince him that the Lakers big man is ready to make his first realistic push at winning the NBA MVP award.

“Anthony Davis was absolutely spectacular for Team USA,” says Windy. “His physical conditioning is awesome. … He is at +10000 [to win MVP next season]. I’m telling you, man, Anthony Davis looked phenomenal. I’m just telling you.”

Windhorst and his podcast partners Tim Bontemps and MacMahon, two writers at ESPN, scoffed at Windy’s assertion that Davis could be next season’s MVP. But from the animation in his voice, it’s apparent that he saw something from the L.A. superstar’s dominant performance in Paris.

In 16.6 minutes per game for the U.S., Davis averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and a team-high 1.5 blocks. He was often the recipient of a James alley-oop and was seen hustling back into the picture after denying a shot so forcefully that the ball was sent to the other end of the court. Indeed, AD was invaluable to Team USA’s 17th gold medal.

Ready to eclipse LeBron’s shadow?

Playing next to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer has helped take Davis’ career to the next level, and it also has been a partial reason for delayed ascension. When he demanded a trade leading up to the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline and made it clear that his only destination was going to be playing alongside LeBron in L.A., he knew what he was signing up for.

In his first year with the team, the former Rookie of the Year captured a championship and played the most dominant season of his then-eight-year career. A run through the NBA bubble led many to believe that the torch was getting ready to be passed at the start of the 2020 season. But for various reasons, AD wasn’t ever able to capitalize off the momentum of year 1 in L.A., all while Bron, at least offensively, looked as striking as ever.

Last season was a resilient one for the center in many ways. He re-established his form as an intimating rim-protector, and for the first time since his initial season in L.A., he secured a top-five finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, an All-NBA team, and an All-Defensive team — all in the same season.

As James enters his 40s, it is virtually now or never for The Brow if he wants to take over the keys. LeBron will willingly take a back seat, but is No. 3 built for a hot spotlight on a big stage?